Confirmation

Confirmation is one of the sacraments of initiation, along with baptism and Eucharist. While baptism is the sacrament of rebirth to a new and supernatural life, confirmation is the sacrament of maturity and coming of age. It is conferred by the anointing of Chrism oil and the laying on of hands by the Bishop. The Sacrament of Confirmation draws us into a greater awareness of the Holy Spirit, which we received at baptism. Through this sacrament, we confirm the presence of the baptismal gifts we have already received; we are sealed with the undeserved and unearned gift of the Holy Spirit.

By a signing with the gift of the Spirit, confirmation enriches the baptized with the Holy Spirit, binding them more perfectly to the Church, and strengthening them in their witness to Christ by word and deed and in their work to bring to its fullness the Body of Christ.

To view the Catechism of the Catholic Church on Confirmation click here.

At Sacred Heart and St. Brigid

Confirmation is normally celebrated in the fall of Grade 11. Candidates for this sacrament--those in the Religious Education program as well as those attending Catholic high schools-- prepare together for Confirmation over a two-year period. They go through a series of occasional meetings and retreats which they share with their parents, sponsors, and parishes' catechetical leaders.